Abstract

A blood glucose lowering effect of Averhoa bilimbi Linn. fruit juice on alloxan induced (60 mg/kg) diabetes (serie A) and glucose loaded (2g/kg = Serie B) mice has been conduced. The fruit juice was administered at does of15 and 30 ml/kg for 5 consecutive days to the mice in serie A, and single dose 30 ml/kg 30 minutes before glucose loaded to the mice in Serie B. the normal and the alloxan plus distilled water treated mice were used as control in Serie A, while the glucose loaded plus distilled water treated mice were used in the serie B as control. Blood glucose on the second and sixth days after fruit administration, 24 hourly water intake, urine output, the body weigh and the relative weight of heart, liver and kidney were measured (Serie A). In Serie B, the blood glucose was measured 15 and 30 minutes after glucose loaded. Results showed that the blood glucose of diabetic mice induced by alloxan treated with 30 ml/kg of fruit juice for 5 days was lower as compared to positive control (p>0.05), while single dose administration of the fruit juice to the same mice did not effect the blood glucose (p>0.10). Futher more, the fruit juice ameliorated the body weight, water intake, and urine output of the diabetic mice (p>0.05). This juice did not affect the ratio of heart and liver (p>0.10) to the body weight, but it increased the ratio of kidney in alloxan induced diabetic mice. In conclusion, the multiple doses of Averhoa bilimbi Linn. fruit juice is active as antidiabetes, but the single dose is not. However, longtern administration will influence the kidney. Keywords : Averhoa bilimbi Linn, alloxan, glucose loaded, antidiabetic